Synergistic Engineeringof the V2CTx-MXene@NiCuFe-LDHNanomaterial with Enhanced Antibacterial and Nanozyme Activity

Abstract MXenes, a class of two-dimensional transition metal carbides (2D-MXene), and their nanocomposites (NCs) have emerged as promising candidates for applications ranging from biomedical to environmental fields. In this study, we have reported the synthesis of a V2CTx-MXene@NiCuFe-LDH (MNCF) nanomaterial with enhanced peroxidase-like activity and its comprehensive physicochemical characterization. The purpose of this work was to develop a nanocomposite with enhanced antibacterial and nanozyme activities to address the growing problem of multidrug-resistant bacteria. The antibacterial efficacy of MNCF NCs was evaluated against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) using bacterial growth kinetics and the Alamar Blue assay. The nanocomposite demonstrated excellent antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity, effectively inhibiting S. aureus, MRSA, and E. coli, while inducing reactive oxygen species generation through GSH depletion without compromising biocompatibility (hemolysis). Catalytically, MNCF NCs mimicked peroxidase-like activity efficiently. These findings highlight the potential of MNCF NCs for antimicrobial coatings, biosensors, environmental remediation, and nanozyme-based therapeutic applications.